My 2nd Journey with the Ultimate Reset

I am so excited to share with you today. Yesterday was my last day of my 21 day Ultimate Reset Detox  from Beachbody.  This was my second time doing this cleanse. I was really surprised as to how much harder it was the second time around. The first time I completed it I was nursing and I modified the program. My hormones were completely different as well. This time around…I experienced so much more. It was very hard on me both physically and mentally and I will share all this as we go along here.

I decided to do the ultimate reset the second time because I found myself feeling sluggish, fatigued, unmotivated, bloated, craving everything, and in just a really unhealthy pattern. I was stopping at fast food restaurants and eating really unhealthy choices. I could tell a difference in my body. I was resorting to caffeine to keep me going. I am a mommy of 2, under the age of 5, and a business woman as well. I am always on the go.  I was just beat.   I was cranky, my skin was breaking out everywhere, I felt like I had cottage cheese and dimples in places that I never had it before.  My skin was not happy.  I was really emotional and just felt like my body was screaming for change.  Forget working out because I just couldn’t find the motivation. That is so not like me.

This was me on the morning of April 16th when I started the Reset:

I made the decision to do it about 2-3 weeks before I actually started. I had to order new supplements and just mentally prepare myself for what was about to come.  I went to the store on Tuesday and got all my fresh healthy ingredients for week 1 and was ready to start.

If you are unfamiliar with the ultimate reset…It is a 21 day detox program. It uses Food and Herbs to restore your body’s natural PH levels. It is a no starvation inner tune up so to speak.  You eat real whole foods like fruits and veggies.  I actually had a hard time eating all the food the first 2 weeks.  It is a really great way to rid your body of the processed foods and refined sugars and any of the other hidden stuff that is just not good for you.  It helps to maximize your energy production and helps your body become more able to process the nutrients and micronutrients and helps to eliminate waste naturally and gently from your system. It won’t leave you running to the bathroom, well except to pee because you will be drinking so much water.

The program lays out a meal plan for you with recipes for each meal and snack of everyday for 21 days. You have to STICK to the plan….Thats the hard part. lol.  Some of it looks super unattractive and eating some of the recipes was hard for me because I am a very picky eater.  This time I forced myself to try things that I refused to make last time and I was pleasantly surprised. My tastes certainly changed as I went through the reset.

This Root Medley was an example of something I would have never tried before. I DESPISE Beets. However I ate the entire things and found myself craving this during the next 2 weeks.

 

The supplements are completely herbal and in pill and drink form.

Week 1

The supplements in week 1 help prepare your body for the changes.  It primes your system and gets you on a healthy eating pattern. You learn a lot about how you eat and when and why.  In this phase you remove foods such as red meat and dairy which place stress on the digestive system.  I ate things like apple cinnamon oatmeal, Eggs and Coconut Quinoa for breakfast.  The food in week one is my favorite. I had sushi, veggie tacos and salmon for dinner.

 

During phase 1, I experienced a lot of different symptoms.  I was tired, achy, sore, my joints hurt and I had a headache for a day or 2. I would usually drink more water and it would get better. I had to really focus on getting in all my water for the day. All of this was normal as my body was releasing the toxins and my organs and insides were getting an internal workout.  I could not take medicine so a warm epsom salt bath with lavender oil and a little peppermint would also ease the aches and the headache. I slept with an eye mask to help me get a more sound sleep.  When I had a headache at night I would put my bean bag lavender eye mask on.  The beans give it some weight which seems to help me.

This was after just one week:

 

Week 2

Week 2 is the serious detox phase.  This is called Release because you will release the toxins that are stored in your tissues and inhibiting the body’s ability to absorb proper nutrients.  I was on a fully vegan diet in this week.  This phase also included a gentle colon cleanse. I had to pee a lot because of all the water I was drinking.  lol.  I was almost up to a full gallon of distilled water a day by the end of week 2.  I was not running to the bathroom for other reasons like most colon cleanses. It was easier and just made me more regular.  It was like clockwork too so I knew when it was coming.

 

In week 2 I felt amazing. I had energy. No aches or pains and I was really enjoying the process. Around the 10th day I started to get SUPER emotional. I was feeling bloated and even a little “backed up” which is the opposite of what was supposed to happen. I reached out to our facebook support group and the nutritionists there assured me it was all part of the process. That my body was changing and my hormones were reacting. Every person will react differently to this process. They were right. After about a week I was back to feeling amazing.

 

Week 3

Week 3 was the Restore phase. This is where it got tough. It cut back on grains and I was eating primarily fruits and veggies.  My portions were plenty but my metabolism was kicking so I was hungry more often.  This phase puts back the probiotics, prebiotics, nutirents and enzymes into my system.  I was craving so many things and I was hungry. I had to REALLY work hard to fight the cravings and I even gave in to a few bites of shrimp and even a cookie. lol. I had a scoop of peanut butter too. I felt really guilty after and my stomach actually hurt. I didn’t crave the refined sugars any more and they tasted totally different from what I remembered.  I still craved the shrimp and really wanted a piece of fish or chicken.  This week I also had to give up my vegan shakeology because it is grain protein so that was also hard.  I made adjustments to things to make it work for me and I ate a lot of sweet potatoes, Kale, Cauliflower, Spinach, Squash, Asparagus, and Fruit. As long as the ingredients I was using were on the approved ingredient list within the same week/phase that I was completing then I just went with it.  I got creative with the dressings for salads too. Those recipes are in the recipe section. Creamy Garlic and Apple Cider Vinaigrette.  I also tweaked the veggies too so I could have Taco Tuesday with my family.

     

I am happy to say that after the 21 days, I am sleeping so much better, I have a ton of energy, my stomach is flat and happy. I don’t feel uncomfortable. My skin is glowing. My butt just looks better with out all the dimples and I feel smaller. This was not about weight for me this time which is why I am not sharing how many inches or pounds I lost. I didn’t even weigh myself before I started or measure so I honestly don’t know. I broke up with my scale a long time ago. It is not good for my mental health and as long as I feel good in my clothes and my own skin then I am not worried about a number.

Now that the reset is complete I will gradually start to add back in grains and proteins. I will most likely keep out the dairy and as much grains as possible. Grains make me bloated and I am not a fan of that feeling. I am pretty happy with the way that I feel and have really come to love the foods that I have been eating so I plan to stick with it. I will certainly be trying to find foods that fall into the same categories as those on the ultimate reset. I just won’t feel as guilty if I choose to go out to eat or have a dessert. Watch for more recipes as I experiment.

Here are my results:

I also have a new found love for yoga. While on the reset you are not able to do intense workouts. This is to allow your body to heal from the inside out. If I am asking it to heal my muscles at the same time I do not give my insides the chance to really benefit from the reset as it will in a relaxed state. Light exercise like walking and restorative yoga or tai chi are perfect. I spent time breathing and just connecting with my soul. It felt great to get re centered.

I highly recommend the Ultimate reset to Everyone and anyone. It is a great way to jump start your health journey or even just to get a good clean out or “Tune up” Even the most healthy fit people need a little tune up every now and then.  Please feel free to fill out the contact form if you have questions. We will discuss what is best for you in your life and how to get the support needed while going through it as well as when to start.

You can also join our Fit Life Community and get started on your health journey even if the reset is just not for you. There are so many options out there and I am here to help you decide what will fit into your life! Use the contact form or find me on social media.

Thanks for reading my Ultimate reset Journey!